State Dept. Told Failure to Redeem Israel Pledge Will Hurt U.S.

March 22, 1957

WASHINGTON (Mar. 21)

Rep. Hugh Scott (R. , Pa. ) has underlined in a letter to Under Secretary of State Christian Herter that if conditions between Israel and Egypt are allowed to return to their prewar status, “the assumptions upon which Israel has relied will prove worthless and the moral force of an American commitment will carry no weight anywhere. “

He told Mr. Herter that “our Government should be doing everything to prevent Egyptian return to Gaza, ” and pointed out that “within recent weeks we did not hesitate to carry on a full diplomatic offensive to persuade the Israel Government to accept our judgment. Should we not take now a similar course with respect to Egypt?”

The Republican Congressman also called on the Administration to resume the economic aid programs and to lift the travel ban to Israel.

The United States must “give substance” to the promises and assumptions on which Israel agreed to withdraw from the Gaza and Akaba areas. Rep. James Byrne (D. , Pa. ) declared in the House today. He said that UN forces must remain in Sharm el Sheikh and the Gaza Strip. He said “if past experience can serve as our guide we must never allow Egyptian forces to return to the Gaza Strip. ” He said equally grave would be the consequences if Egypt were to prevent Israel ships from using the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Akaba.